Multi-time world champion Cris Cyborg has taken issue with Ronda Rousey’s claim that she is the “greatest fighter that has ever lived.”
Rousey, an undeniable MMA pioneer who will forever be known as the first-ever women’s UFC champion, has been making the rounds on the media circuit to promote her autobiography, Our Fight. One of the biggest revelations that has come from her appearances is her history of concussions, which had a significant impact on the latter part of her otherwise iconic career inside the Octagon.
During a recent interview with Valeria Lipovetsky, Rousey recognized herself as a bonafide legend of the sport but believes that her last two appearances for the UFC had rendered all of her prior accomplishments moot in the eyes of fight fans.
“I know that like I’m the greatest fighter that has ever lived, but when it got to a point that I had taken so much neurological damage that I couldn’t take it anymore, suddenly everything I had accomplished meant nothing,” Rousey said.
Taking exception to Rousey’s comments — specifically the “greatest fighter” quote — current Bellator MMA women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, snapped back at the Olympic medalist on X, writing:
“Poor girl still suffering from CTE. I hope she finally got a good mouth guard.”
Poor girl still suffering from CTE.
I hope she finally got a good mouth guard. https://t.co/JwHQxUSxJA
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) April 3, 2024
Cris Cyborg Gearing Up For Her Debut Inside the PFL Smart Cage
While Ronda Rousey’s role in bringing women to the UFC is undeniable, Cris Cyborg is considered by many to be the undisputed GOAT of WMMA. Making her professional debut in 2005, Cyborg has won a slew of world titles for a variety of promotions, including Invicta FC, Strikeforce, the UFC, and most recently, Bellator.
Cyborg is also a two-time IBJJF world champion and was the World MMA Awards’ Female Fighter of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
Along the way, she has bested some of the biggest names in the sport like Gina Carano, Holly Holm, and Cat Zingano.
With the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator last year, Cris Cyborg is expected to make her Smart Cage debut later this year alongside former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Cyborg is expected to square off with Larissa Pacheco, the 2022 and 2023 PFL Women’s Lightweight Tournament winner.
No official announcements have been made, but PFL founder Donn Davis suggested that a pay-per-view event will feature their highly anticipated clash sometime between July and September of 2024.
